McGeady going well at Q-School

Derry’s Mick McGeady is tied for fifth place midway through the First Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School Section A qualifier at The London Club in Kent. No fewer than 48 players will represent either Ireland or Northern Ireland at stage one, including Newlands’ Cian Curley, who has turned professional.

Ulsterman McGeady followed his opening 67 with a 70 to trail leaders Tim Sluiter of the Netherlands and Ricki Neil Jones of England by three strokes on seven-under entering today’s third round.

Shane Franklin and Niall Turner have work to do to progress to November’s Second Stage in Spain. Franklin shares 33rd place on one-under following a 70 with Muskerry man Turner a shot further back in tied 41st, also after a 70.

Northern Ireland’s Ian Davison (85-76) is tied 97th on 17-over with amateur Garrett Leahy propping up the field on 25-over after rounds of 85 and 84.

At Ribagolfe near Lisbon, Swede Jonas Pettersson leads by one from Portugal’s Tiago Cruz after adding a level par 72 to his opening 68.

Co Louth amateur Simon Ward is struggling - tied 68th on 13 over par after following an opening 81 with a 76.

A further six venues will host the First Qualifying Stage over the next three weeks in Austria, England, France, Germany, Italy and Scotland.

The successful players from each of the eight venues will progress to the Second Qualifying Stage at four venues in Spain at the end of November with the top 30 and ties earning cards following six rounds at the Final Stage at PGA Golf de Catalunya near Girona in December.

37 Irish heading to Q-School

Walker Cup player Niall Kearney is one of 37 Irishmen who have entered the first stage of the European Tour Qualifying School later this month.

The 21-year old Royal Dublin amateur will tee it up in a 115-man field at Fleesensee Golf and Country Club near Berlin from September 22-25 alongside Justin Brink and fellow South of Ireland champions Mark Campbell and Mervyn Owens.

Kearney is one of six Irish amateurs amongst the 749 hopefuls who will begin their bids of European Tour cards at stage one. The others are Ulstermen Byron Campbell and Ruairi McGee, Newlands’ Irish international Cian Curley, Royal Dublin’s Neil O Briain and Portmarnock’s James Fox.

Portstewart’s Paul Cutler, who was disappointed not to make the Walker Cup side this year, has not entered.

Solid start for Irish at Q-School

Seven of Ireland’s 12 challengers broke par at Stage Two of the European Tour Qualifying School with four of them inside the qualifying places after the opening day.

Simon ThorntonA total of 304 players are competing at four venues in Spain with a total of 74 spots up for grabs in next week's Final Qualifying Stage at PGA Golf Catalunya where the top 30 and ties after six rounds will earn full tour cards.

Simon Thornton (68) and Colm Moriarty (69) are inside the top 18 at Sherry Golf but while Mick McGeady (71) is just two shots outside the magic number, David Higgins (72) and Eddie Barr (74) have more work to do.

Turner finishes fast to join McGeady in PQ2

Derry powerhouse Mick McGeady blasted a five under 67 in the final round at the London Club to cruise into November’s second stage of the European Tour Qualifying School. But the Irish hero of the day was Muskerry’s Niall Turner, who also shot 67 to make it to PQ2 on the five-under par number at the Kent venue.